Definition

1. Noun:
   • Steering wheel: The circular device used by a driver to control the direction of a car or other vehicle.
   • Helm: The wheel or tiller used by a person to steer a boat or ship.
   • Handlebar: The bar with handles used to steer a bicycle or motorcycle.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy nắm chặt tay lái khi lái xe trên đường đèo. (He gripped the steering wheel tightly while driving on the mountain road.)
  • Thuyền trưởng đứng sau tay lái. (The captain stood behind the helm.)
  • Cô ấy bám vào tay lái xe đạp. (She held onto the bicycle's handlebars.)

Advanced Usage

• "nắm tay lái": to take the wheel; to be in control (literally and figuratively).
  • Sau khi cha mất, anh ấy phải nắm tay lái công ty. (After his father passed away, he had to take the wheel of the company.)
• "buông tay lái": to let go of the steering wheel/handlebar; to relinquish control.
  • Đừng bao giờ buông tay lái khi xe đang chạy. (Never let go of the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lái (verb): To drive, to steer, to pilot.
  • Anh ấy lái xe rất cẩn thận. (He drives the car very carefully.)
• Vô-lăng (noun): A direct loanword from French (), commonly used synonymously with "tay lái" for a car's steering wheel.
  • Chiếc vô-lăng được bọc da. (The steering wheel is leather-wrapped.)

Synonyms

• Bánh lái (noun): Rudder (for ships/boats); sometimes used for steering wheel.
• Vô-lăng (noun): Steering wheel (specifically for automobiles).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Lái theo (verb phrase): To steer according to; to follow a course.
  • Người lái đò lái theo dòng nước. (The ferryman steers along the water current.)
• Lái xe (verb phrase): To drive a car/vehicle.
  • Chị ấy học lái xe năm ngoái. (She learned to drive last year.)

Related Idioms

• "Tay lái lụa": Literally "silk steering wheel/hands"; describes a very smooth, skilled, and gentle driving style.
  • Tài xế taxi đó có tay lái lụa. (That taxi driver has a very smooth driving style.)
• "Vững tay lái": Literally "steady at the wheel"; means to be in firm control, not easily swayed.
  • Dù gặp khó khăn, giám đốc vẫn vững tay lái. (Despite difficulties, the director remains in firm control.)

noun

1. sturing wheel, helm